Tray stacker



may 13, 1924.

J. H. ARAKELIAN TRAY STAGKER- Filed June 30 1923 INVENTOR. John HAraIceLaan Q mm ATTORNEY Patented May 13, 1924.

JOHN H. ARAKELIAN, OF TURLOCK, CALIFORNIA.

TRAY STACKER.

Application filed June 30, 1923.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN H. ,ARAKELIAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Turlock, county of Stanislaus, State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tray Stackers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this application.

This invention relates to a device to be used for the collecting and stacking of fruit drying trays, my main object being to provide a structure for the purpose by means of which two handlers may collect and stack in a vertical pile, a number of loaded trays, and convey the same to any desired point, without having to bend over or otherwise deviate from a natural standing position while so doin At present, with the trays lying on the ground, to collect and stack the same requires stooping to the ground to lift each individual tray, and when thus handling any considerable number of trays, it will be evident that the task soon becomes a tiresome and back-breaking one.

My improved stacker eliminates this crude and tiring method of handling the trays, as will. be evident hereinafter.

I have also constructed the device so that once a stack is formed, the stacker may be readily removed therefrom without disturbing the trays or having to uncouple any part of the stacker. I

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purposes for which it is de-.

signed.

These objects .l accon'iplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings similar characters of ref erence indicate correspondingparts in the. several views:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the stacker.

Figs. 2 and 3 are fragmentary side and end views respectively of the lower end of a standard, showing a tray holding lug and its trip means.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the

Serial No. 648,752.

device comprises four vertical posts or standards 1 of suitable height, connected together by side and end 2 and 3, and suitably braced to form a rigid skeleton frame structure outlining a rectangular area, in a horizontal area, symmetrical to but slightly greater than the area of a standard size of tray to be handled.

The lower ends of the posts 1 are vertically forked as at land have pivoted therebetween lugs 5, positioned in parallel parts, those of each pair facing each other, and of course projecting inwardly of the frame. These lugs are disposed so as to pass under the ends of a tray just inside the usual longitudinal edge cleats thereon which hold the bottoms of the trays clear of the ground.

The lugs'are free to turn upwardly about their pivotal connections, above their nor mal horizontal position, but are prevented from downward movement below such by means of pins 6 slidably mounted in and transversely of the forks 4 just above the lugs and in a horizontal plane offset from the pivots thereof. 7

When these pins are withdrawn from contact with the upper edges of the lugs the latter are of course free to drop to a vertical position, and such withdrawal is accomplished when desired by means of hell cranks 7 pivoted adjacent the pins, the lower ends of the bell-crank arms being connected to the pins while the upper and horizontally disposed arms thereof are connected to operating hand-grips 8 preferably mounted under and in longitudinal alinement with the rigidly mounted handles 9 by which the stacker is carried, these handles being adjacent the upper ends of the posts 1 and extend longitudinally with respect to the lugs 5.

'Additional handles 10 may if desired be mounted in similar arrangement to the handles- 9 bu lower down on the posts, in the event that a stack of trays is to be lifted higher than can be done by the operators grasping the handles 9.-

In operation, to collect and load. trays on the stacker, the operators raise the device just suflicient to clear a tray, and then lower the device over the tray. The downward pressure will cause the lugs, which will then rest on the upper edges of the tray-ends, to be folded up until with the further downward movement of the entire device said lugs pass by the vertical faces of the tray ends and then'dro 'i of their own weight to their normal horizontal position under the tray, in the space normally had clear of the ground on account ofthe cleats with which all such trays are provided, as hereinbeliore explained.

It the stacker is then lifted, the tray will of course be lifted also, and the handlers will move on to repeat the operation with another tray. i

As this second tray similarly e'ngz'rgeih the first tray will of course he raised hy contact with the second tray, and similarly with the loading of eachadditional tray those already on the stacker will be raised the height of a tray, until the stack is as high as the device will handleor'the weightas great as the handlers can litt without undue elfort. v

lVhen the stackeris to be renamed" from a stack of trays, the latter are allowed to reston the ground or elsewhere so as to take the load off the lugs, and the handles then grasp and draw up the grips- 85 thus disengaging the pins 6 from the lugs, and the latter then droppingvertically, the stacker may be withdrawn vertically from the stack of trays without interference therewith.

The lugs are then reset in their normal horizontal positionsby any suitable means, and the pins 6 then permitted to again move to their locking positions over the lugs, which they will do upon the release of: the grips by reason of springs 11 mounted in connection with the bell cranks.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a deviceas substantially fulfills the objects of the invention asset forth herein.

lVhile this specification sets forth in detail the present and preterred construction of the device, still in practice such devi'a tions from such detail may be resorted" to as do not torni a departure from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims. v

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and. useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A tray stacker comprising a vertical we structure adapted to be placed verticallv down over a tray. i'iorma'lly horizontal tray-supporting lugs pivoted on the frame and free to fold up "ardly and re leasable means for holding the lugs horizontal and against downward movement.

2. A. tray stacker comprising a vertical frame structure adapted to be placed vertically down over a tray, lugs mounted on the frame and adapted to automatically pass under and support a tray when the stacker is lowered thereover and means whereby the lugs may be cai'ised to move away from their tray supporting positions at will.

3. A tray stacker comprising a vertical frame structure adapted to he placed vertically down over a tray, lugs pivoted on the trame and adapted to swing upwardly when the frame is lowered over a tray and to then drop to'pass under the tray, and means releasable at will for normally hold: ing the lugs in their tray supporting position but when released allowing the lugs to turn down clear of the tray.

41:. A tray stacker comprising a vertical frame structure adapted to be placed vertically down over a. tray lugs pivoted on the frame and adapted to swing upwardly when the frame is lowered over a tray and to then drop to pass under the tray. and pins normally engaging the lugs to one side of the pivotalconnections thereof and'withdrawable from the lugs at will.

.5. A. tray stacker comprising: a vertical frame structure adapted to be placed vertically down over a tay lugs pivoted on the frame and ada rted to swingupwardly when the frame is lowered over a tray and to then drop to pass under the tray, hair dies mounted on the frame whereby to liitt and, manipulate the same; means normally holding the lugs in their tray supporting" positions, andmeans actuable at will from ad acent the handles for relasing said lug;- holding means at will.

6; A tray stacker comprising a vertical frame structure adapted to he placed vertically down over a tray lugs pivoted on the frame and ad'a )t'ed to swin u i 'ardlv when the frame is lowered over a tray and to then drop tovpass under the tray. han dles mounted on the frame. whereby to lift and manipulate the same, pins normally engaging the lugs to one side of their pivotal connections, and means connected to the pins to permit of their withdrawal from such engagement actuated from points adjacent the handles.

7. A tray stacker comprising: a vertical frame structure adapted to be placed vertically down over a tray, lugs pivoted on the frame and adapted to swing upwardly when the t'rame is lowered over a tray and to then drop to pass under the tray. handles mounted on the frame whereby to lift and manipulate the same pins normally en'- gaging; the lugs to one side of their pivotal connections. lever means connected to the pins to permit of their withdrawuil from such engagement, and means for actuating said lever means mounted adjacent the handles.

In testimony whereof I alliX my signature.

JOHN H. :LRELKELIANL 

